Photo By Sgt. 1st Class P. Behringer | Pfc. Vincent Ventarola (left), Sgt. Marc Rowe (center) and Sgt. Eric Castrejon, all...... read more read more
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TORUN, Poland – A mother and child out for a morning walk turned to face the direction of sirens howling through the city center of downtown Torun, Poland, Feb. 6.
A pair of police cars passed as the mother and child looked down the narrow cobblestone street to see a convoy of American military vehicles bearing Polish and American flags moving toward the town square.
Soldiers of C Battery, Field Artillery Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment waved as they made their way through the square to stage vehicles for a static display alongside Polish partners.
“I like to see this display because it looks like strong military,” said Jerjaud Aymeline, a Torun resident and mother originally from France. “It’s shows me it’s reassuring and it seems a big protection for us. I think that all the military can work together.”
Families and Torun citizens holding American flags filled the square while Polish and American soldiers showed them vehicles, weapons and posed for pictures.
“Today we’re a little bit split up,” said 1st Lt. Nicholas Romano a C Battery fire direction officer. “We have some vehicles that are here at the static display kind of doing a community outreach along with our Polish partners. (It is) a fantastic opportunity to engage with the community. Everyone who is not here is back preparing for our (gunnery) qualification tables in the cantonment area.”
Before traveling from Vilseck, Germany, C Battery was told to be ready to move at any given time within 96 hours of notification for Dragoon Shock, this rapid deployment exercise.
“Dragoon shock is basically to reassure our NATO allies that we will be here (demonstrating) America’s commitment to their security,” said Spc. Tobias Garza, a C Battery cannon crew member. “It’s also to show our command and control abilities and our abilities to move freely through NATO boundaries.”
Once gunnery in Torun is complete, C Battery will support live fire exercises alongside 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Lithuania.
“Honestly I love coming here for Atlantic Resolve, being able to work with the Polish in particular,” Romano added. “The Polish army is fantastic. The training opportunities that they offer us and how involved they want to be with our training and how involved they want us to be in their training really speaks to the cooperation the (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) alliance really creates.”
In addition to the display, Paul Jones, United States Ambassador to Poland, and Mical Zaleski, Torun Mayor, were present to speak to the community.
“Torun (is) a beautiful and historical place which we are delighted to be in today together with our fine American Soldiers,” Jones said during his remarks.
“I want to share one important thing today,” Jones added. ”That is today is a special day, but every day in Poland is a special day because every day American soldiers and Polish soldiers are exercising and training together to make sure that Poland and every inch of NATO territory is secure and safe for our citizens.”
Jones and Zaleski toured the display, speaking with soldiers from both armies and greeting smiling children enjoying the event.
“I did not realize how much our presence was appreciated,” Garza said. “Everywhere we go people are waving flags. These people are amazing.”
Garza beamed while speaking about this once in a lifetime opportunity.
“This is a beautiful town,” Garza continued. “I’m really excited to be here. I never thought in my entire life that I would be able to drive through Poland, let alone set up a static display and meet and greet with Polish people. (For) me this is a dream come true.”
| Date Taken: | 02.06.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 02.08.2016 05:42 |
| Story ID: | 188184 |
| Location: | TORUN, PL |
| Web Views: | 163 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Torun welcomes artillery soldiers during Dragoon Shock, by SFC P. Behringer, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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